Hen&#39;s nest.



D. S. WELCHMAN. HEN'S NEST.

, APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9. 1912.

1 1 4 1 A38 Patented June 1, 1915.

avwmtoz Hineooeo GCM qS THE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON,D. c.

DAVID sJW LcHMAN, or (moves, WYOMING.

HEN S NEST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

Application filed December 9, 1912. Serial No. 735,709.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID S. WELGHMAN,

. a citizen of the United States, residing at object to so construct adevice of this char actor that the newly laid eggs will safely pass fromthe nest to a receptacle.

' A further object of the invention is to so construct the same that thefowl'in entering the same will close the door to, prevent other hensfrom entering the nest.

i lVith these and other objects in view, this invention resides in thenovel features of construction, formation, combinations and arrangementsof parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustratedin the accompanying drawing, in which r Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe nest. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same. Fig.3 is a rear view. Fig. 4 is a front elevation. Fig. 5 isa sectional viewon line 5+5 of Fig. 1'. Fig. 6 is a top plan view.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a box which ispreferably'rectanr gular in cross section and consists of a pair ofsides 2, top 3, end 1 and a narrow bottom 5, said box having the openend 6.

j The sides 2 of the box extend a short distance belowthe narrow bottom5 so that the box 1 will be supported slightly above the floor toprevent dampness and vermin from entering the same.

Hingedly connected at one end to the narrow bottom 5 is a platform 7,the same being suspended at its outer end by coil springs 8 which havetheir'lower ends connected to the platform and their upper ends to thesides 2, said springs serving to hold the platform 7 in a horizontalposition when the nest is unoccupied.

Secured to the end 4: is a frame 9 which serves to support the upperedges of a wire mesh receptacle 10, the lower edge of which is securedto a bar 11 which is arranged between the sides 2 and below the plane ofthe narrow bottom 5, said bar serving to limit the downward swingingmovement of the platform 7 Rising from the platform 7 and adjacent thehinged end thereof is an arm 12 to the upper end of which is pivotallyconnected a link 13, the other end of said link being similarlyconnected to a hinged door 1% which is adapted to partially close theopen end6 of the nest when the fowl is upon the platform 7. I

From this construction it will be seen that when a hen enters the nestthrough the open end 6 and passes upon the platform 7, the same will berocked until the outer end thereof rests upon the bar 11, thuspositioning the platform at an inclination that the dropped egg willroll into the receptacle 10. As soon as the hen passes the platform 7the same during this rocking movement will swing the arm 12 inwardly andthrough the medium of the link 13 the door 1-1 will partially close theopen end of the nest to prevent other hens from entering the nest whenit is occupied. When the hen leaves the platform 7 and steps upon thebottom 5, said platform will return to its horizontal position and theforward movement of the arm 12 will swing the door open, thus permittingthe hen to leave the nest.

If desired the sliding latch 15 may be attached to the door 14 forengaging the keeper 16 secured to one of the edges of the sides 2 sothat the door will be automatically locked when the hen entersthe nestso that should the hen entering the nest lay an egg the same can beseparated from those that do not lay.

What is claimed is A hens nest comprising a box having an open end and aclosed end, a floor internally of the box adjacent to the door, aplatform hingedly connected to the floor, springs attached to the wallsof the box supporting the opposite end of said platform, an arm risingfrom the platform adjacent to its hinged connection with the floor, alink connecting the upper end of the arm and the door, a frame securedto and extending from the closed end of the box, a bar limiting thedownward movement of the platform sup- In testimony whereof, I aifix mysignaported by the sides of the box below the ture, in presence of twoWitnesses.

frame, a receptacle supported by said frame Q DAVID S. VVELCHMAN. andsaid her, said platform being rocked by Witnesses: V 5 the Weight of afowl, thereby rocking-the MARTIN L; BEE,

arm and closing the door. MARY F. WELCHMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner) of Patents,

' Washington, I). 0'.

